Document: Contract of sale from Abraham Rycken to Jochum Beeckman of a lot on the Heeregraft on Manhattan Island

On this ,day, the twenty-ninth of January anno 1652, before me, Andries Johannis Christman, [ clerk ] appointed by the honorable director general and council of New Netherland, appeared Abram Rycken, of the first part, and Jochum Beeckman, of the second part, who in the presence of the undersigned witnesses declared that they had agreed and contracted with each other about the purchase of a certain lot on the conditions hereinafter written.

Abraham Rycken sells to Jochum Beeckman, who also acknowledges that he has bought, a certain lot situated on the Heeregraft on the island of Manhatans, measured off from the lot heretofore granted by the Hon. Director Willem Kieft to Abraham Rycken, being in width on the graft, to wit, on the west side, three rods, on the north side three rods, in the rear, on the east side, next to Harck Syboutsen's lot, three rods, seven and a half feet, between both, to wit, between Abraham Rycken and Jochum Beeckman, three rods, five feet, for the sum of one hundred Guilders in current seewan, to be paid in two payments, to wit, one hundred guilders cash and the remaining fifty guilders on September 24, 1652. The seller hereby cedes his right and title to the aforesaid measured off lot to the behoof of Jochum Beeckman or his successor, from now on forever, promising to free the same from all trouble and claim which any one in the world may make thereto. The parties promise to hold this their agreement, sale and conveyance firm and binding and to observe and carry out the same, under submission [ of their persons and properties ] to all courts and judges in testimony whereof this is signed by the parties and by Adriaen Hegeman and Jan Gerritsen S[ c ]hmitt, as witnesses hereto invited, datum ut supra.

Abraham Aycken
Jochum Beeckman
Adriaen Hegeman
Jan Gerritsen Schmit
Andries Johannis Christman